Nevada Wildlife Action Plan

IDENTIFICATION OF OF CONSERVATION PRIORITY

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment of Conservation Priority Species

Overview of the NatureServe Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI)

The Nevada Natural Heritage Program (NNHP) assessed the relative vulnerability, and the relative importance of factors contributing to that vulnerability, for Nevada’s Species of Conservation Priority (SOCP) using the NatureServe Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI). The CCVI was chosen for this project for a number of reasons: 1) it was designed as a rapid way of assessing a large number of species in a relatively short period of time; 2) it is cost-effective (free tool provided by NatureServe); 3) it is packaged as a programmed Excel workbook and is easy to use; 4) it was not overly technical; it was designed to be used by any person with a science background; and, 5) the results are presented in a way that allows the user to group taxa by their relative risk or by specific sensitivity factors, which helps direct management and adaptation.

The CCVI uses a scoring system that integrates a species’ predicted exposure (direct and indirect) to climate change within the assessment area (i.e., the state of Nevada) and a series of factors, all supported by published studies, associated with a species’ sensitivity to changes in climate. The tool also incorporates documented or modeled response to climate change, if available. The tool weighs each sensitivity score depending on the magnitude of projected climate change, incorporates any documented or modeled responses, and calculates a final vulnerability index score.

Direct exposure is the magnitude of projected temperature and moisture change across the species' range within the assessment area. For this project, direct exposure was measured using climate data obtained from The Climate Wizard. The Climate Wizard uses base climate projections previously downscaled by Maurer et al. (2007). As recommended in NatureServe’s Guidelines for Using the NatureServe Climate Change Vulnerability Index (Young et al., 2011), a mid-century time line, Medium A1B emissions scenario, and ensemble average of 16 general circulation models were used for the species’ vulnerability assessments. Predicted moisture changes were based on the Hamon AET:PET Moisture Metric, also developed by The Climate Wizard team. This metric integrates temperature and precipitation through a ratio of actual evapotranspiration (AET) to potential evapotranspiration (PET) with consideration of total daylight hours and saturated vapor pressure (Young et al., 2011).

Indirect exposure includes phenomena such as sea level rise (not a factor in Nevada), the presence of natural and/or anthropogenic barriers that would hinder or prevent a species from dispersing to a new area with a favorable climate envelope, or human-induced land use changes designed to mitigate greenhouse gases (e.g., the construction of renewable energy projects such as wind farms or solar arrays may remove key or create barriers).

There are six species-specific sensitivity factors considered by the CCVI. These factors are listed below with a brief summary/explanation.

1. Dispersal and movements – species with poor dispersal abilities may not be able to track shifting favorable climate envelopes.

2. Predicted sensitivity to temperature and moisture changes – species requiring specific moisture and temperature regimes may be less likely to find similar areas as the climate changes and previously-

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associated temperature and precipitation patterns uncouple. Four separate factors are scored here as listed below in a through d:

a. Historical and physiological sensitivity to changes in temperature. b. Historical and physiological sensitivity to changes in precipitation, hydrology, or moisture regime. c. Dependence on a specific disturbance regime likely to be impacted by climate change – species dependent on habitats that are maintained by regular disturbances (e.g., fires or flooding) are vulnerable to climate change-induced changes in the frequency and intensity of these disturbances. d. Dependence on ice, ice-edge, or snow-cover habitats – the extent of oceanic ice sheets and mountain snow fields are decreasing as temperatures increase, imperiling species dependent on these habitats.

3. Restriction to uncommon geological features or derivatives – species requiring specific substrates, soils, or physical features such as caves, cliffs, or sand dunes may become vulnerable to climate change if their favored climate conditions shift to areas without these physical elements.

4. Reliance on interspecific interactions – because species will react idiosyncratically to climate change, those with tight relationships with other species may be threatened. A series of five factors are scored within this category as listed below in a through e:

a. Dependence on other species to generate . b. Dietary versatility ( only). c. Pollinator versatility (plants only). d. Dependence on other species for propagule dispersal. e. Forms part of an interspecific interaction not covered above.

5. Genetic factors – a species' ability to evolve adaptations to environmental conditions brought about by climate change is largely dependent on its existing genetic variation. Two factors are included in this category:

a. Measured genetic variation. b. Occurrence of bottlenecks in recent evolutionary history.

6. Phenological response to changing seasonal temperature and precipitation dynamics – research suggests that some phylogenetic groups are declining due to lack of response to changing annual temperature dynamics (e.g., earlier onset of spring, longer growing season), including some bird species that have not advanced their migration times, and some temperate zone plants that are not moving their flowering times.

The final section of the CCVI incorporates any available data on documented or modeled response to climate change. This is an optional section and is not required for the CCVI to calculate a vulnerability score. If peer- reviewed, published data are available related to a species response to climate change (e.g., range shifts, range contraction, or phenology mismatches), the species response would be scored in this section. Additionally, the results of available species-specific models can be incorporated in this section.

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After all of the appropriate factors are scored, an overall CCVI score is automatically calculated by the tool (i.e., Extremely Vulnerable, Highly Vulnerable, Moderately Vulnerable, Not Vulnerable/Presumed Stable, or Not Vulnerable/Increase Likely), and a measure of confidence of the score (Very High, High, Moderate, Low) is provided. This confidence relates specifically to the level of uncertainty indicated by the assessor based on the range of values given for each factor. Checking a range of values for particular factors tends to decrease confidence in species information.

The CCVI does not include factors that are already considered in existing conservation status assessments. Conservation status ranks assess a species vulnerability to extinction from a wide variety of factors such as population size, range size, threats, and demographic factors. These types of factors are not repeated in the CCVI. The CCVI only takes into consideration those factors that are related to a species vulnerability to climate change. The goal is for the CCVI to complement NatureServe Conservation Status Ranks and not to partially duplicate factors. Ideally, CCVI scores and Conservation Status Ranks should be used in concert.

Complex interactions such as shifts in competitive, predator-prey, or host-parasite interactions are likely to be important as well, but they are not included in this rapid assessment because of the difficulty and unpredictability inherent in simultaneous evaluation of climate change on interacting species.

Applying the CCVI to Nevada’s Species of Conservation Priority

Species’ range maps and natural history information were obtained from a number of sources including the Nevada Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) (Wildlife Action Plan Team, 2006), the NNHP Biotics database, The Revised Nevada Bat Conservation Plan (Bradley et al., 2006), Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Nevada (Floyd et al., 2007), The Nevada Comprehensive Bird Conservation Plan (GBBO, 2010), NatureServe Explorer, federal agency documents (e.g., USGS professional reports or published studies, USFWS Recovery Plans, Federal Register), field guides, and expert input.

In addition, once available, the results of habitat modeling for certain key habitats conducted by TNC (TNC, 2011), and the results of bird population modeling conducted by GBBO (GBBO, 2011) were incorporated into the CCVI tool to score the appropriate factors for certain species.

Assessments were completed for a representative group of species within each taxonomic group. After these initial CCVI scores were calculated by NNHP, an expert workshop was held (December 2009 in Reno) to solicit feedback and comments from biologists working throughout Nevada. The two-day workshop was well-attended and included representatives from federal (BLM, EPA, NPS, USFS, and USFWS) and state (NDOW, NNHP) agencies, a non-profit organization (TNC), and academia (UNR). Highly constructive comments and feedback were obtained from the attendees on the scoring of the factors, and additional species information was also obtained to better inform the assessments. All feedback and comments were incorporated into the CCVI for each species and scores were recalculated.

In total, 340+ species were assessed using the CCVI, 256 of which are included in this WAP as Nevada SOCP. The results of the CCVI assessments for the SOCP, including CCVI scores and the factors contributing to the species vulnerability (if applicable), were used in the development of the Species Accounts. A detailed table of CCVI results, including the scores for each factor, the overall vulnerability score, and confidence for each SOCP, is included in Appendix D, Table 1.

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2012 SPECIES OF CONSERVATION PRIORITY LISTS

The following is the listing of the Species of Conservation Priority for the Nevada Wildlife Action (WAP) Revision (2012). Some species from the 2005 list remain while new species were added and are distinguished by the green, italicized font.

Aquatics

Mollusks Common Name Scientific Name California floater Anodonta californiensis

Gastropods Common Name Scientific Name Amargosa tryonia Tryonia variegata Antelope Valley pyrg pellita Ash Meadows pebblesnail Pyrgulopsis erythropoma bifid duct pyrg Pyrgulopsis peculiaris Big Warm Spring pyrg Pyrgulopsis papillata Blue Point pyrg Pyrgulopsis coloradensis Butterfield pyrg Pyrgulopsis lata Camp Valley pyrg Pyrgulopsis montana Corn Creek pyrg Pyrgulopsis fausta Crystal Spring pyrg Pyrgulopsis crystalis Distal-gland pyrg Pyrgulopsis nanus Dixie Valley pyrg Pyrgulopsis dixensis Duckwater pyrg Pyrgulopsis aloba Duckwater Warm Springs pyrg Pyrgulopsis villacampae Elko pyrg Pyrgulopsis leporina elongate Cain Spring pyrg Pyrgulopsis augustae elongate Mud Meadows pyrg Pyrgulopsis notidicola elongate-gland pyrg Pyrgulopsis isolata Emigrant pyrg Pyrgulopsis gracilis Fairbanks pyrg Pyrgulopsis fairbanksensis Flag pyrg Pyrgulopsis breviloba flat-topped Steptoe pyrg Pyrgulopsis planulata Fly Ranch pyrg Pyrgulopsis bruesi grated tryonia Tryonia clathrata Hardy pyrg Pyrgulopsis marcida Hubbs pyrg Pyrgulopsis hubbsi Humboldt pyrg Pyrgulopsis humboldtensis

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Common Name Scientific Name Kings River pyrg Pyrgulopsis imperialis Lake Valley pyrg Pyrgulopsis sublata Landyes pyrg Pyrgulopsis landyei large gland Carico pyrg Pyrgulopsis basiglans Lockes pyrg Pyrgulopsis lockensis longitudinal gland pyrg Pyrgulopsis anguina median-gland Nevada pyrg Pyrgulopsis pisteri minute tryonia Tryonia ericae Moapa pebblesnail Pyrgulopsis avernalis Moapa Valley pyrg Pyrgulopsis carinifera monitor tryonia Tryonia monitorae neritiform Steptoe Ranch pyrg Pyrgulopsis neritella northern Soldier Meadow pyrg Pyrgulopsis militaris northern Steptoe pyrg Pyrgulopsis serrata northwest Bonneville pyrg Pyrgulopsis variegata Oasis Valley pyrg Pyrgulopsis micrococcus ovate Cain Spring pyrg Pyrgulopsis pictilis Pahranagat pebblesnail Pyrgulopsis merriami Pleasant Valley pyrg Pyrgulopsis aurata Point of Rocks tryonia Tryonia elata Pyramid Lake pebblesnail dalli Sada’s pyrg Pyrgulopsis sadai small gland Carico pyrg Pyrgulopsis bifurcata smooth juga Juga interioris southeast Nevada pyrg Pyrgulopsis turbatrix southern Duckwater pyrg Pyrgulopsis anatina southern Soldier Meadow pyrg Pyrgulopsis umbilicata southern Steptoe pyrg Pyrgulopsis sulcata sportinggoods tryonia Tryonia angulata Spring Mountains pyrg Pyrgulopsis deaconi squat Mud Meadows pyrg Pyrgulopsis limaria Steptoe hydrobe Eremopyrgus eganensis sterile basin pyrg Pyrgulopsis sterilis sub-globose Steptoe Ranch pyrg Pyrgulopsis orbiculata transverse gland pyrg Pyrgulopsis cruciglans turban pebblesnail Fluminicola turbiniformis Twentyone Mile pyrg Pyrgulopsis millenaria Upper Thousand Spring pyrg Pyrgulopsis hovinghi Vinyards pyrg Pyrgulopsis vinyardi Virginia Mountains pebblesnail Fluminicola virginius

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Common Name Scientific Name White River Valley pyrg Pyrgulopsis sathos Wong’s pyrg Pyrgulopsis wongi

Fishes Common Name Scientific Name Alvord chub Gila alvordensis Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes Ash Meadows speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus nevadensis Big Smoky Valley speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus lariversi Big Smoky Valley tui chub Gila bicolor ssp. (unnamed) Big Spring spinedace Lepidomeda mollispinis pratensis bonytail chub Gila elegans bull trout (Jarbidge River basin pop) Salvelinus confluentus pop. 4 Clover Valley speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus oligoporus Cui-ui Chasmistes cujus desert dace Eremichthys acros Devils Hole pupfish Cyprinodon diabolis Diamond Valley speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus ssp. (unnamed) Fish Lake Valley tui chub Gila bicolor ssp. (unnamed) flannelmouth sucker Catostomus latipinnis Hiko White River springfish Crenichthys baileyi grandis Independence Valley speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus lethoporus Independence Valley tui chub Gila bicolor isolata Lahontan cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi Little Fish Lake Valley tui chub Gila bicolor ssp. (unnamed) Meadow Valley speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus ssp. (unnamed) Meadow Valley Wash desert sucker Catostomus clarkii ssp. (unnamed) Moapa dace Moapa coriacea Moapa speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus moapae Moapa White River springfish Crenichthys baileyi moapae Monitor Valley speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus ssp. (unnamed) Moorman White River springfish Crenichthys baileyi thermophilus mountain whitefish Prosopium williamsoni Oasis Valley speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus ssp. (unnamed) Pahranagat roundtail chub Gila robusta jordani Pahranagat speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus velifer Pahrump poolfish Empetrichthys latos latos Preston White River springfish Crenichthys baileyi albivallis Railroad Valley springfish Crenichthys nevadae Railroad Valley tui chub Gila bicolor ssp. (unnamed)

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Common Name Scientific Name razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus relict dace Relictus solitarius Sheldon tui chub Gila bicolor eurysoma tui chub of Dixie Valley Gila bicolor ssp. 9 Virgin River chub Gila seminuda Virgin River chub (Muddy River pop.) Gila seminuda pop. 2 Virgin River spinedace Lepidomeda mollispinis mollispinis Wall Canyon sucker Catostomus sp. Warm Springs Amargosa pupfish Cyprinodon nevadensis pectoralis Warner Valley redband trout Oncorhynchus mykiss pop. 4 White River desert sucker Catostomus clarkii intermedius White River speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus ssp. 7 White River spinedace Lepidomeda albivallis White River springfish Crenichthys baileyi baileyi woundfin Plagopterus argentissimus Yellowstone cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri

Amphibians Common Name Scientific Name Amargosa toad Anaxyrus nelsoni Arizona toad Anaxyrus microscaphus Columbia spotted frog (Great Basin pop) Rana luteiventris pop. 3 Great Basin spadefoot Spea intermontana Great Plains toad Anaxyrus cognatus northern leopard frog Lithobates pipiens relict leopard frog Lithobates onca Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog* Rana sierra* western toad Anaxyrus boreas

Terrestrial

Reptiles Common Name Scientific Name chuckwalla Sauromalus ater desert night lizard Xantusia vigilis desert horned lizard Phrynosoma platyrhinos desert iguana Dipsosaurus dorsalis desert tortoise (Mojave Desert pop.) Gopherus agassizii Gila monster Heloderma suspectum long-nosed leopard lizard Gambelia wislizenii

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Common Name Scientific Name Great Basin collared lizard Crotaphytus bicinctores greater short-horned lizard Phrynosoma hernandesi northwestern pond turtle Actinemys marmorata marmorata northern rubber boa Charina bottae pygmy short-horned lizard Phrynosoma douglasii Panamint alligator lizard Elgaria panamintina ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus rosy boa Lichanura trivirgata Shasta alligator lizard Elgaria coerulea shastensis sidewinder Crotalus cerastes Sierra alligator lizard Elgaria coerulea palmeri Smith’s black-headed snake Tantilla hobartsmithi Sonoran mountain kingsnake Lampropeltis pyromelana spotted leaf-nosed snake Phyllorhynchus decurtatus western banded gecko Coleonyx variegatus western brush lizard Urosaurus graciosus western red-tailed skink Plestiodon gilberti rubricaudatus Mojave shovel-nosed snake Chionactis occipitalis western threadsnake Rena humilis

Birds Common Name Scientific Name American Avocet Recurvirostra americana American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii Bald Eagle (Contiguous US Pop) Haliaeetus leucocephalus Bank Swallow Riparia riparia Bendire's Thrasher Toxostoma bendirei Black Rosy-Finch Leucosticte atrata Black Tern Chlidonias niger Black-chinned Sparrow Spizella atrogularis Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus Brewer's Sparrow Spizella breweri California Spotted Owl Strix occidentalis occidentalis Canvasback Aythya valisineria Cassin's Finch Carpodacus cassinii Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus Common Loon Gavia immer

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Common Name Scientific Name Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor Dusky Grouse Dendragapus obscurus Ferruginous Hawk Buteo regalis Flammulated Owl Otus flammeolus Gilded Flicker Colaptes chrysoides Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Leucosticte tephrocotis Great Basin Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii adastus Greater Sage-Grouse Centrocercus urophasianus Greater Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis tabida Le Conte's Thrasher Toxostoma lecontei Lewis's Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus Mountain Quail Oreortyx pictus Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Northern Pintail Anas acuta Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Pinyon Jay Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus Redhead Aythya americana Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus Sage Sparrow Amphispiza belli Sage Thrasher Oreoscoptes montanus Scott's Oriole Icterus parisorum Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Sierra Nevada Mountain Willow Empidonax traillii brewsteri Flycatcher Sooty Grouse Dendragapus fuliginosus Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii extimus Tricolored Blackbird Agelaius tricolor Virginia's Warbler Vermivora virginiae Western Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia hypugaea Western Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis hesperis Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri Western Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus occidentalis White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi

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Common Name Scientific Name White-headed Woodpecker Picoides albolarvatus Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Yuma Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris yumanensis

Mammals Common Name Scientific Name Allen's big-eared bat Idionycteris phyllotis American marten Martes americana American pika Ochotona princeps American water shrew Sorex palustris bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis Botta's pocket gopher Thomomys bottae California leaf-nosed bat Macrotus californicus cave myotis Myotis velifer dark kangaroo mouse Microdipodops megacephalus desert kangaroo rat Dipodomys deserti desert pocket mouse Chaetodipus penicillatus fringed myotis Myotis thysanodes hoary bat Lasiurus cinereus Humboldt yellow-pine chipmunk Neotamias amoenus celeris Inyo shrew Sorex tenellus little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus long-eared myotis Myotis evotis Merriam's shrew Sorex merriami Mexican free-tailed bat Tadarida brasiliensis Mono Basin mountain beaver Aplodontia rufa californica montane shrew Sorex monticolus mountain pocket gopher Thomomys monticola mule deer Odocoileus hemionus northern flying squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus northern river otter Lontra canadensis Pahranagat Valley montane vole Microtus montanus fucosus pale kangaroo mouse Microdipodops pallidus Palmer's chipmunk Neotamias palmeri Preble's shrew Sorex preblei pygmy rabbit Brachylagus idahoensis sagebrush vole Lemmiscus curtatus shadow (Allen's) chipmunk Neotamias senex Sierra Nevada snowshoe hare Lepus americanus tahoensis silver-haired bat Lasionycteris noctivagans

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Common Name Scientific Name spotted bat Euderma maculatum Townsend's big-eared bat Corynorhinus townsendii western jumping mouse Zapus princeps western red bat Lasiurus blossevillii western small-footed myotis Myotis ciliolabrum Wyoming ground squirrel Spermophilus elegans nevadensis *Species common and/or scientific name have changed since 2005 plan.

Rationale for Adding New Species of Conservation Priority

The following aquatic and terrestrial species were added to the SOCP list based on climate change analysis through the CCVI or other demonstrated conservation concern for the species. For additional information, please refer to the Species Accounts section of this plan.

Aquatic Species

Blue point pyrg The Blue Point springsnail was added as an SOCP due to its unknown status, highly localized habitat, and susceptibility to threats such as water issues and exotic species invasion.

Alvord chub Occupies low-elevation, moderate gradient montane stream habitats subject to projected higher level climate change effects from increased thermal load and altered seasonal runoff patterns including reduced, late warm season, base flows.

Little Fish Lake Valley tui chub Occupies sub-montane (valley floor) isolated spring/pool and wetland habitats which are subject to accelerated effects from climate change, including increased thermal loads. These habitat types are dependent on non-carbonate aquifers and local recharge which are also subject to the effects from changes in seasonal precipitation and early spring onset of runoff events.

Meadow Valley speckled dace Occupies mid to low-elevation montane streams. May be impacted by groundwater development and projected climate change effects, such as increased thermal inputs and greater frequency in stochastic flow events (e.g. changed monsoonal storm patterns) affecting habitat quality and distribution.

Meadow Valley Wash desert sucker Occupies mid to low-elevation montane streams, may be impacted from groundwater development and projected climate change effects from increased thermal inputs and greater frequency in stochastic flow events (e.g. changed monsoonal storm patterns) affecting habitat quality and distribution.

Mountain whitefish Occupies mid- to high-elevation montane stream and river habitats conspecific with native trout species. Projected effects from climate change are similar to Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT) and other

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native cutthroat trout and include impacts from increased thermal loads, reductions in total habitat suitability and linear extent and negative habitat changes from modified runoff patterns and reduced late summer base flows.

Relict dace Occupies isolated spring, springbrook, and wetland habitats. Specific impacts are projected on some populations from proposed groundwater development projects. Thermal effects from climate change are anticipated to restrict total available habitat and distribution for populations; populations that occur in non-carbonate aquatic systems which are subject to a higher degree of climate change related flow effects.

Sheldon tui chub Occupies low-elevation (valley floor) spring/pool and stream habitats that are subject to projected higher level climate change effects, such as increased thermal load and altered seasonal runoff patterns, including reduces late warm season base flows.

Warner Valley redband trout Occupies mid-elevation montane stream systems with projected impacts from climate change including increased thermal loading and shifts in temporal stream flow patterns affecting habitat suitability and habitat distribution

Yellowstone cutthroat trout Occupies mid- to high-elevation montane stream systems with projected impacts from climate change through increased thermal loading and shifts in temporal stream flow patterns affecting habitat suitability and habitat distribution

Great Basin spadefoot New species because of disease concerns and potential effects from climate change on amphibians in general due to life history requirements. Could be threatened by large scale habitat conversion.

Western toad Although this species is common throughout the Great Basin, there are potentially isolated and endemic species that need more certain taxonomic delineation.

Terrestrial Species

American Bittern This was added to the SOCP because of perceived population declines in the U.S. and western region. This species is moderately vulnerable to climate change and its preferred habitat is sensitive and vulnerable to degradation.

Bank Swallow This was added to the SOCP list due to continental population declines and continued concern in California. This species is moderately vulnerable to climate change.

Common Nighthawk This was added to the SOCP list due to significant declining trends in the U.S., western region, and the Great Basin.

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Flammulated Owl This was added as a new WAP species due to rangewide population declines and concerns over conifer habitat with respect to climate change.

Gilded Flicker This was added to the SOCP list due to its restricted range in Nevada and declining trend rangewide.

Golden Eagle This was added to the SOCP list due to its inclusion in the Bald & Golden Eagle Protection Act. There are also concerns with conflicts with renewable energy development.

Prairie Falcon This was added to the SOCP list due to potential conflicts with renewable energy development.

Sage Thrasher This was added to the SOCP list because it is moderately vulnerable to climate change and due to the possibility of large scale sagebrush habitat conversion and loss.

Scott’s Oriole This was added to the SOCP list due to declining population trends in Nevada and because its preferred Joshua tree habitat is vulnerable to climate change.

Western Sandpiper This was added as an SOCP in the WAP due to its declining rangewide population trend and Nevada’s stewardship responsibility for this species during migration.

Wilson’s Phalarope This species was added to the SOCP list because it is moderately vulnerable to climate change. Its preferred breeding habitat is sensitive and vulnerable to degradation. Nevada also has migration stewardship responsibility.

Northern rubber boa This species was added to the SOCP list because it requires mesic microhabitats in the Great Basin that are vulnerable to drying due to climate change and reliant upon aspen riparian areas, a vulnerable habitat type.

Ring-necked snake This species was added to the SOCP list because it requires mesic microhabitats in the Mojave Desert that are vulnerable to drying due to climate change.

Rosy boa This was added as a new WAP species because it occurs in isolated populations that leave the species vulnerable to decline especially with respect to climate change and collection. In addition, it is only found in one location within Nevada.

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Sidewinder This species was added to the SOCP list because of current and increasing habitat development and fragmentation, especially in consideration of alternative energy development and large scale solar power plants.

Smith’s blackhead snake This species was added to the SOCP list because it has fragmented populations and its habitat is vulnerable to deterioration especially with respect to climate change.

Spotted leaf-nosed snake This species was added to the SOCP list because of current and increasing habitat fragmentation, especially in consideration of alternative energy development and large scale solar power plants.

Western threadsnake This was added as a new WAP species because it requires mesic microhabitats in the Mojave Desert that are vulnerable to drying due to climate change.

Mojave shovel-nosed snake This species was added to the SOCP list because of current and increasing habitat fragmentation, especially in consideration of alternative energy development and large scale solar power plants.

Mexican free-tailed bat This was added as an SOCP in the WAP because of this species’ habit of roosting in large colonies and its vulnerability to decline due to energy development.

Sierra Nevada snowshoe hare This species was added to the SOCP list because it is an isolated subpopulation with limited habitat connectivity and shared stewardship with California.

Silver-haired bat This species was added to the SOCP list because of regional population concerns and is especially vulnerable to wind turbine collision/mortality.

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DEFINING NEVADA’S LANDSCAPE FOR WILDLIFE

For the Nevada Wildlife Action Plan (WAP), an ecological framework for strategy development was devised for initial analyses using ecoregions and modified Bailey’s sections. Modified Bailey’s sections are divisions within an ecoregion that are defined by similarities of geomorphic process, surface geology, soils, drainage networks, and regional climate patterns. Four ecoregions and 10 modified Bailey’s sections overlap Nevada (Figure 4) (CPET 1999; MDEPT 2001; Nachlinger et al., 2001).

Although there are several different ecoregional classifications in use in the United States, there is a great deal of overlap in all of the maps and scrutiny reveals more similarities than differences (Groves, 2003). Ecoregional boundaries should not be taken too literally because there is typically a gradual transition from one major ecosystem type to another and only rarely are ecoregional boundaries represented by distinct edges. In addition, most ecoregions contain patches of habitats that are more representative of adjacent ecoregions. We also recognize that ecological classification is not a panacea for categorizing all taxa or biological features. As the Nevada WAP evolved, the complexity and often redundant nature of attempting to create a strategic plan using modified Bailey’s sections as our units of planning became evident. Specifically, key habitat types for wildlife occur across multiple sections and ecoregions. The complexity of forcing aquatic species and their habitats into a mostly terrestrial-based system was also problematic.

Aquatic species and their habitats are more easily categorized into a system defined by hydrologic factors. The aquatic framework is more appropriately defined by ecological drainage units which are aggregations of fourth level hydrologic unit codes (HUCs). Ecological drainage units can be subdivided into fifth and sixth level HUCs (subbasin or watershed scale) which refines the aquatic framework to a more focused, smaller scale and is particularly important for the discussion and planning for many of the isolated aquatic species found throughout Nevada. Currently, HUCs defined at the eighth level are easily available for Nevada. However, since most Nevada Aquatic Species of Conservation Priority are geographically isolated populations, it became evident that developing a finer-level system would be a very useful tool for identifying and managing key populations.

For hydrologic analysis and water planning and management purposes, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Nevada Division of Water Resources (NDWR), Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, have divided the state of Nevada into 256 Hydrographic Areas and Sub-Areas. This smaller hydrologic unit typically comprises a valley, a portion of a valley, or terminal basin. It would be beneficial to aquatic species conservation for NDOW to partner with NDWR, USGS, the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, universities, conservation groups, and other aquatic resource planning bodies to develop and incorporate a standardized hydrologic unit system at this scale that would aid in exchange of information.

While the four major ecoregions in Nevada are readily recognizable to most partners, Bailey sections were not an intuitive framework for the development of aquatic species conservation strategies. For aquatic species, much of the structure for conservation delivery is already in place in the form of county or multi-county species conservation working groups. . In this context, partner feedback indicated that framing objectives and actions by key habitat type would offer an effective approach.

As a result, the Nevada WAP provides a user-friendly format to the multiple partners that will be involved in its implementation. A framework based on modified Bailey’s sections will likely be useful in the terrestrial ecological linkage for future partnership development with California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona. The use of HUCs that by their nature overlap state boundaries will be useful in linking aquatic conservation efforts

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among neighboring states. Multi-state implementation of WAPs will facilitate the identification of common priorities. Collaboration among western states will also promote cooperative studies for wildlife and their key habitats that will address objectives across ecologically based units rather than geopolitical boundaries.

Figure 4. A map of the four main ecoregions in Nevada.

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Key Habitats

Aquatic Habitat Information

Because of the absence of an easily definable aquatic habitat geospatial data layer which fit into the developed structure of this process, the WAP team chose a hybrid approach to incorporating aquatic habitat information. Rather than develop an entirely separate, HUC based, aquatic habitat definition structure, which would have been duplicative of much of the information contained in associated terrestrial habitat definitions, aquatic habitats have been incorporated into their associated terrestrial key habitat groups. This applies primarily to flowing water (stream or lotic) habitats, and also to smaller standing water (lentic) aquatic habitats such as montane pools and marshes. Where the ability exists to more clearly define aquatic features on the landscape, these have been presented as the unique key habitat groups, Lakes and Reservoirs and Spring and Springbrook aquatic habitats. This structure has the benefit of closely linking aquatic and terrestrial habitat strategies for those key habitats, such as stream systems, where conservation and management approaches must integrate aquatic and terrestrial components to ensure these systems are fully functional and supporting diverse species assemblages at their full potential.

Linking Nevada’s Species of Conservation Priority to 22 Key Habitats

After identifying the Species of Conservation Priority and describing the habitat framework for which the conservation strategies will be developed, the next step was to link the priority species to the habitat framework so that the strategies will be relevant to species conservation. The assumption in effecting the species-habitat linkage is that species occur in habitats based on the availability of key structural elements that satisfy a species’ most basic needs for food, cover, and reproductive needs (nesting, denning, etc.). Enough is known about the basic life history needs of most vertebrate species in Nevada that they can be roughly characterized and categorized by the key habitat elements to which they respond. For example, birds that feed on insects in the canopies of cottonwood trees are characterized as “overstory/canopy” species; while many reptiles respond positively to the rocky landscape features in their habitats (“rocks/canyons”). Species that respond to the same set of habitat features were grouped together in species assemblages – literally, species assembled together by similar habitat needs.

Conservation strategies for habitat management were written toward the needs of these species assemblages by addressing the conservation issues associated with the maintenance of the key habitat features. For example, one of the 22 Key Habitats is Intermountain Conifer Forests and Woodlands. Goals and objectives for this habitat address natural processes to maintain the structure but they also incorporate the value of this habitat to Nevada’s WAP Species of Conservation Priority. Structural attributes of intermountain conifer forests and woodlands important to wildlife such as a mature overstory or the presence of snags and cavities were identified and species were grouped within these features (“species assemblages”). For aquatic species, cold versus hot springs or ephemeral versus permanent water sources are important distinctions for setting conservation objectives. However, for many key habitat types incorporating aquatic species, assemblages of those species are driven as much by the isolation and local endemism of those species as they are by specific structural characteristics of individual aquatic habitats within the key type. Species assemblages are identified for each of the 22 Key Habitats and were formulated through a series of workshops and interviews with species experts in Nevada, supplemented by information available in the literature describing species requirements.

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In addition to habitat-based strategies addressing the needs of species assemblages, actions for individual species are identified. This was necessary when the required action is not habitat-based, or when it involves species-based research or monitoring. Even though the species in question might have broad habitat use patterns, an attempt was made to attach the species-based action to the Key Habitat strategy where it was most likely to have relevance. This was purely an organizational decision that was made to avoid the need to write a separate section for species-based action.

Many of the species-based conservation actions call for the development of species/habitat relationships models. These studies and the resultant models basically describe the species-habitat linkage through key habitat features that are used to inform conservation strategy development in this plan. The refinement of knowledge of these relationships will allow better understanding of the habitat features influencing species’ distribution on the landscape, create better-informed species assemblages, and develop a more critically- focused conservation strategy with better prospects for success.

See Figure 5 and Table 2 for additional information on the ecological system groups and associated key habitats.

The WAP Conservation Landscape and Focal Areas

The second required element for Nevada’s WAP includes describing the locations of key areas essential to the conservation of fish and wildlife species of concern. Addressing this element began with a landscape analysis that identified areas in Nevada that represented the highest biodiversity of WAP Species of Conservation Priority.

Focal areas were identified as discrete landscape units using the natural basin and range geography of the Nevada landscape. These units were prioritized using biodiversity and species richness measures based upon NDOW and NNHP observations and element occurrences for species of conservation priority. Focal areas were initially determined be those basin and range units that captured as least one documented occurrence of at least 90% of the species of conservation priority. Basin and range units were then added manually such that at least one occurrence of the remaining 10% of the species of conservation priority (e.g. localized, endemic populations) were represented. Landscape units were also added to include Audubon Important Bird Areas (2012), NNHP Scorecard sites (2006), significant spring landscapes (NNHP, 2011), greater sage-grouse preliminary priority habitat (NDOW, 2012), crucial mule deer habitat (NDOW, 2009), and crucial bighorn sheep habitat (NDOW, 2010) that were not already represented by the basin and range units with high biodiversity (see Appendix G).

The resulting focal areas map (Figure 1 in Appendix G) provides information about the location of biologically diverse areas in Nevada, highlights landscapes containing endemic species, and recognizes important areas identified in prior conservation planning efforts. The map does not provide a prioritization of individual landscapes but is intended as an informational resource for strategy development and implementation. Each key habitat strategy in the Nevada WAP includes a list of associated focal areas based upon the landscape assessment described above. Focal areas provide a general overview of key areas for fish and wildlife but by no means are intended to imply that conservation action should be restricted to these areas. Prioritization of key areas in the conservation landscape will be carried out by local working groups during WAP implementation. The focal areas provide a framework for evaluating Nevada’s WAP in a statewide context to help determine the extent to which conservation actions identified in the 22 key habitat strategies are benefiting the WAP Species of Conservation Priority.

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Figure 5. Ecological Systems Groups incorporated into the Nevada WAP.

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Table 2. Nevada’s Ecological Systems, Key Habitats, and Ecological System Groups Ecological Key Habitat Ecological System System Group Basins and Desert Intermountain (cold desert) Intermountain Basins Greasewood Flat scrub Scrub Intermountain Basins Mixed Salt Desert Scrub Intermountain Basins Semi-desert Shrub Steppe Intermountain Basins Wash Mojave mid-elevation mixed Colorado Plateau Blackbrush-Mormon tea Shrubland desert scrub Mojave Mid-elevation Mixed Desert Scrub Mojave/Sonoran (warm desert) Sonora-Mojave Creosote bush-White Bursage Desert scrub Scrub Sonora-Mojave Mixed Salt Desert Scrub Sonora-Mojave-Baja Semi-Desert Chaparral Developed Lands Agricultural lands Agriculture and Agriculture Developed landscapes Developed, Medium - High Density Developed, Open Space - Low Intensity Lower Montane Lower montane chaparral Great Basin Semi-Desert Chaparral Mogollon Chaparral Lower montane woodlands Great Basin Piñon-Juniper Woodland Intermountain Basins Juniper Savanna Intermountain Basins Mountain Mahogany Woodland and Shrubland Rocky Mountain Gambel Oak-Mixed Montane Shrubland Riparian and Desert playas & ephemeral pools Intermountain Basins Playa Wetlands North American Warm Desert Playa Intermountain rivers and streams Great Basin Foothill and Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Shrubland Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Riparian Woodland Lakes and Reservoirs Open Water Marshes North American Aid West Emergent Marsh Mesquite bosques and desert North American Warm Desert Riparian Mesquite washes Bosque North American Warm Desert Wash Mojave rivers and streams Invasive Southwest Riparian Woodland and Shrubland North American Warm Desert Lower Montane Riparian Woodland and Shrubland North American Warm Desert Riparian Woodland and Shrubland Wet Meadows Mediterranean California Subalpine-Montane Fen Rocky Mountain Alpine-Montane Wet Meadow

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Ecological Key Habitat Ecological System System Group Temperate Pacific Montane Wet Meadow Sagebrush Sagebrush Great Basin Xeric Mixed Sagebrush Shrubland Semidesert Intermountain Basins Big Sagebrush Shrubland Intermountain BasinsBig Sagebrush Steppe Intermountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe Sand Dunes and Cliffs and Canyon Colorado Plateau Mixed Bedrock Canyon and Badlands Tableland Intermountain Basins Cliff and Canyon North American Warm Desert Bedrock Cliff and Outcrop North American Warm Desert Volcanic Rockland Sierra Nevada Cliff and Canyon Sand dunes and badlands Intermountain Basins Active and Stabilized Dune North American Warm Desert Active and Stabilized Dune North American Warm Desert Badland North American Warm Desert Pavement

Montane to Alpine Alpine and tundra Mediterranean California Alpine Bedrock and Scree Rocky Mountain Alpine Bedrock and Scree Rocky Mountain Dry Tundra Aspen woodland Intermountain West Aspen-Mixed Conifer Forest and Woodland Complex Rocky Mountain Aspen Forest and Woodland Grasslands and meadows Intermountain Basins Semi-Desert Grassland North Pacific Montane Grassland Rocky Mountain Subalpine Mesic Meadow Southern Rocky Mountain Montane-Subalpine Grassland Intermountain conifer forests Intermountain Basins Subalpine Limber-Bristlecone and woodlands Pine Woodland Rocky Mountain Bigtooth Maple Ravine Woodland Rocky Mountain Montane Dry-Mesic Mixed Conifer Forest and Woodland Rocky Mountain Montane Mesic Mixed Conifer Forest and Woodland Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland Rocky Mountain Subalpine Dry-Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland Rocky Mountain Subalpine Mesic Spruce-Fir Forest and Woodland Rocky Mountain Subalpine-Montane Limber- Bristlecone Pine Woodland Sierra conifer forests and Mediterranean California Dry-Mesic Mixed Conifer

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Ecological Key Habitat Ecological System System Group woodlands Forest and Woodland Mediterranean California Ponderosa-Jeffrey Pine Forest and Woodland Mediterranean California Red Fir Forest and Woodland Northern Pacific Mesic Subalpine Woodland Sierra Nevada Subalpine Lodgepole Pine Forest and Woodland

Other Barren landscapes Barren Lands, non-specific Recently Burned Recently Mined or Quarried

Invasive Annual and Biennial Forbland Invasive grasslands and forblands Invasive Annual Grassland Invasive Perennial Grassland

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